At PACIFIC 2015, the international maritime exposition held recently
in Sydney, DCNS was showcasing for the first time a scale model of its
proposal for the Australian SEA1000 submarine design and procurement
program. Based on the French
Navy Barracuda SSN currently in final stage of construction,
the Shorfin Barracuda is 3 meters shorter (94 meters) and 200 tons lighter
(4,500 tons).

Shortfin
Barracuda Block 1A scale model on display at PACIFIC 2015

The two submarines
share the same hull but DCNS further improved some aspects of the Shortfin
Barracuda Block 1A hull shape in order to maintain the impressive speed
and maneuverability qualities expected with the next SSN of the French
Navy. Both are fitted with X-shape rudders which provides better handling
to the submarine while surfaced and underwater. The "pump jet"
allows for higher speed before the onset of cavitation and lower acoustic
signature.

Earlier
this year, the French Navy Barracuda Program Manager told Navy
Recognition: "The Barracuda is a major capability investment
for the Defense reflecting France's will to maintain its naval power
status for the next fifty years. This new submarine will contribute
to the deterrence strategy and to the use of conventional means in power
projection or intelligence-gathering contexts. Therefore, it will act
both as a power projection tool and as a warship". "The Barracuda
received many technology transfers from the SSBN and some further developments
that should give it a very high discretion, no comparison to the Rubis
class. The stealth objectives of the new SSN are very close to those
of the current SSBNs [ed. note: Le Triomphant class]."

Video:
Shortfin Barracuda Block 1A at PACIFIC 2015

DCNS is the only
one among the SEA1000 contenders to master the full spectrum of submarine
types and size: SSK, SSN and the large SSBN.

Some of the key requirement for the Barracuda SSN were long endurance
and high transit speed. The conventional Shortfin Barracuda will retain
these intrinsic qualities: According to Xavier Mesnet, Marketing Director
for Surface Ships and Submarine "It will be able to deploy
far away, quickly and for a significant on-station period".

Finally, should Australia select the DCNS proposal, the Shortfin Barracuda
will benefit from 2 or 3 years of operational deployement of the French
Navy Barracuda.